Sunday Morning February 24, 2002 Bel Aire Baptist Church
Series: Who Is Jesus Christ? [#3]
THE LION AND THE LAMB
Hebrews 7
Introduction:
1. In our series “Who Is Jesus Christ?” we have identified Jesus as the One who can make us alive and the One who came to seek and save the lost.
2. In Revelation 5:5-6 we see Jesus being referred to as two different kinds of animals. What are they? The lion and the lamb. Also in these two verses I noticed something else. As John is looking over expecting to see the Lion of the tribe of Judah, what does he see? He sees not a ferocious lion with blood dripping off his teeth, but a harmless and innocent lamb.
3. Now, I don’t know about you, but if I was John I would have been thinking, “What! A lamb! No, no, no! What we need right now is that ferocious lion to take charge, not some sweet little lamb.”
4. Not only does this not make sense to us, but also it did not make sense to the Jews. How could the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb represent the same person? In fact, history tells us that the religious leaders and scholars at the time between the Old Testament and the New Testament, which is referred to as the Inter-biblical period, believed that there was going to be two Messiahs.
5. These scholars used Zechariah 4:12 to say that the two branches talked about in this verse was two Messiahs. One Messiah would be the Kingly Messiah and the other Messiah would be the Priestly Messiah. After all, Israel had a King and a High Priest. These two positions were separate.
6. These scholars also used the term “scepter” from Genesis 49:8-12 to refer to the promised Kingly Messiah and the promise of “the eternal Priesthood” from Numbers 25:10-13 to refer to the promised Priestly Messiah.
7. If this was not enough evidence for you, they would also take you to Jeremiah 33:17-18. Turn with me to this passage.
8. Here we have two covenants, one with David concerning a Messiah that would come as King and the other with the Tribe of Levi concerning a Messiah that would come as High Priest. God could not break either promise so what could He do?
Comparison
These two animals obviously have different types of characteristics.
The Lion: Characteristics
1. Power
2. Strength
3. Commands respect
4. Confident
5. Cunning
6. No fear
The Lamb: Characteristics
1. Not powerful
2. Weak
3. Not respected
4. Not confident
5. Not known for being cunning
6. Fears many other animals
The Lion: Representation
1. In Revelation 5 this Lion represents a King.
2. You may ask, “How do you know that?” This passage says that this Lion is from the tribe of Judah and in Genesis 49:8-12 we see that the tribe of Judah is the tribe from which the Israelite kings would come. It’s promised right there in Genesis.
3. From this passage we know that Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah and so that makes Him our Eternal King. That makes Him the Almighty King. That makes Him the Most Powerful King. That makes Him the Ruler over all. Amen?
That’s why we can sing Hymn 247 “Come, Thou Almighty King”.
[Sing Hymn 247]
The Lamb: Representation
1. In Revelation 5 this Lamb represents a sacrifice. In fact this is not just any sacrifice, but a perfect sacrifice.
2. In the Old Testament who was responsible for making the sacrifices for the nation of Israel? The priest.
3. In this passage we find that Jesus is not only the One who is the perfect sacrifice but is the One who offered the sacrifice. He did this by offering Himself as the sacrifice for all mankind. This makes Jesus our eternal High Priest. This makes Jesus our Intercessor. This makes Jesus the only way to God. John the Baptist said in John 1:29, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Turn with me to Hymn 233 “Behold The Lamb”.
[Sing Hymn 233]
Combination
How can it be that Jesus could be both King and High Priest? Did God have to change the rules for Jesus? Did God have to break one of His promises?
Turn with me to Hebrews 7:1-10
I would ask that we all stand as I read from God’s Word and I would also ask that the ushers come forward for our offering.
[Offering: Special Music: “The Lion And The Lamb” (Shawn Drake)]
King Melchizedek
1. In Hebrews 7:1 we find Melchizedek who was the king of Salem (which means peace) and the priest of God.
2. In Hebrews 7:2 we find that Melchizedek was the “king of righteousness” and the “king of peace”.
3. We also find that his genealogy could not be traced and that he reigns as king forever. Who does this typify? Jesus
High Priest Melchizedek
1. Melchizedek was considered a high priest yet he was not from the line of Levi.
2. Melchizedek’s priesthood last forever.
3. Who does this typify? Jesus
Christ
We have seen how Melchizedek was King and High Priest at the same time. There is much debate whether Jesus was Melchizedek or not, but I know this much, God wants us to see Jesus Christ for who He is.
Turn with me to Hebrews 7:11-14
King Jesus
1. Verse 14 reminds us that Jesus is from the line of Judah, which is the line of kings. There is a difference between King Jesus and the other kings.
2. Jesus will reign over the earth as King.
3. During the millennial reign, Jesus will be the King of kings and Lord of lords on this earth. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
Turn with me to Hebrews 7:15-28
[Special Music: “Holy Place” (Choir)]
High Priest Jesus
1. How can Jesus be the King and the High Priest? How can He be the High Priest? He’s from the wrong family line or is He?
2. Jesus was appointed by God as High Priest not because of His ancestry but because of His power and His life, just as Melchizedek was.
3. Jesus’ priesthood is forever.
Concern
How does all this information concern us? What does Jesus being the High Priest mean for us here today?
Complete
1. Hebrews 7:25 says that through Jesus our salvation is complete.
Illustration:
I heard a story about a man who was drowning and another man dove into the water to pull him out. His plan was to save this man from drowning; but instead, as he dove into the water, he hit his head on a rock. That day, both men drown. See the man had good intentions of saving the drowning man, but he was unable to complete his salvation.
2. When Jesus died on the cross and on the third day rose again, He completed the sacrifice necessary for our salvation. Look with me at verses 26-28.
3. As Jesus died on the cross He shouted, “It is finished”. God’s plan for the redemption of man was completed.
4. In the Old Testament, we find an extremely important day in the lives of the Israelites each year. This day was the Day of Atonement. On this day the High Priest would make sacrifice for the sins of all of the people of the nation of Israel. This was the only day that the High Priest could go into the Holy of Holies. This was where the presence of God was. Now understand, if anyone else ever went into the Holy of Holies they would die and if the High Priest went in any other time, he would die. Also, the High Priest didn’t just walk in there and say, “Alright God let’s get this thing over”. The High Priest could not enter until sacrifice had been made for his own sins. Listen, this was no joke. If the High Priest messed up and did something that went against God’s instructions he was dead.
5. Why do I tell you this? Not just anyone could go into God’s presence. In fact only the High Priest could go into God’s presence and this was after he was cleansed of the sins in his life.
6. We cannot come into the presence of God on our own. It would never be possible for you or I to do that. When I go into the presence of God during my prayer time and that is what I am doing, I can only do that because Jesus is my High Priest, my Mediator. If you think that you can just barge into the Presence of God like you are you are wrong.
7. Not only is Jesus Christ our High Priest, but also as Christians we become part of the priesthood of God. What? That sounds crazy doesn’t it? Turn with me to 1 Peter 2:4-10.
Conclusion:
1. From this passage we see that through Jesus Christ we have become royalty and a part of the priesthood. This means that you as a Christian are to bow down to and serve the King of kings. That means that you as a Christian are to lead to people to God. You are to work for and serve the High Priest, Jesus Christ. The question I have for you this morning is, “Are you doing it?”
2. Folks, Jesus didn’t come to make you better, He came to make you alive and to bring you into His family not as a slave or pauper, but as royalty. Don’t take the sacrifice of the Lamb lightly because no other could have been your sacrifice.
3. If you are here this morning and Jesus is not your Savior, you are still dead. You are dead in your sins. Only Jesus can resurrect you from that deadness and when He does resurrect you, He brings you into His royal family.
4. We are going to have a moment of prayer and then Mark is going to sing, “Glory”. I pray that this morning I can say that my life brings glory to God, not shame. How about your life?
[Prayer]
[Invitation: “Glory” (Mark Laster)]
[Powerpoint and a worksheet are available for this sermon.]
